A damaged pedestrian bridge.
SEYMOUR – Vandals caused extensive damage to the Seymour Land Trust’s Legion Pool property on Chatfield Street this week, targeting a wooden pedestrian bridge, picnic tables, benches, split rail fence, and spraying graffiti throughout the park.
First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis said the damage is going to cost thousands of dollars. Drugonis believes the vandals struck sometime Wednesday night (June 21). She said Seymour Land Trust President Alex Danka informed her early Thursday (June 22) about the vandalism. Danka was not available for comment.
“They damaged the wooden fence (and) the plastic lining on the lattice on the covered bridge. They took out walls on the covered bridge, they broke flood lights, destroyed picnic tables and benches and spray painted graffiti on the benches,” Drugonis said. “This upsets me and makes me sick knowing that the time and effort that goes into maintaining that historic piece of property by our volunteers had been damaged.”
Drugonis said the town had been planning to install security cameras at the park — but that didn’t happen because the town didn’t have the money.
“We are looking into other avenues for funding and monitoring at our parks,” she said on Facebook.
Legion Pool was given its name by the American Legion and served as a popular swimming hole for residents dating back to the 1930s. It was a regular hangout up until the late 1950s when the area fell prey to neglect. In 1989 the Land Trust worked to get grant money and transformed the area back into a thriving hub where families enjoy nature trails, covered bridges, gazebos and a fishing pond stocked with trout. The Land Trust’s Henry Hamel Environmental Building on the same property serves as a popular spot for weddings, birthday parties and meetings.
“We want residents to enjoy what we have here in town, and for these (vandals) to have such disrespect for something they do not own, is very upsetting,” Drugonis said.
Drugonis said Seymour police have been informed about the matter.
Seymour Police Chief John Bucherati said police don’t have any leads at the moment.
“Obviously the volunteers keep that place up, and it takes a lot of hard work to maintain the area,” Bucherati said. “I would encourage anyone with information about this to call the police.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Seymour Police at 203 – 881-7600.
A vandalized bench.
